Infoterra GmbH Initiates Commercial Exploitation of TerraSAR-X

* Direct Access Customers can now acquire licenses
* Global Network of SAR Experts Forming
* German Radar Satellite to be Launched in 2006

ILA/Berlin, Friedrichshafen, 10 May 2004

Only from 2006, TerraSAR-X will be delivering Earth observation data of a new quality, however, its´ commercial exploitation starts now: two years prior to the scheduled launch date. The Friedrichshafen-based Infoterra GmbH, a 100-percent subsidiary of Europe´s leading satellite provider EADS Astrium, currently installs a global distribution network for the radar satellite. The satellite´s Synthetic Apertur Radar (SAR) will deliver X-band radar data with a swath width of 10 to 100 km, at a resolution of 1 to16 meters. The commercial exploitation rights for the new radar satellite are with Infoterra GmbH exclusively Infoterra was launched in 2001 for the commercial exploitation of TerraSAR-X. In prototype projects, the company develops production chains for a new generation of geo-information products and services, which will evolve once the new TerraSAR-X data is available. Today, future markets are being stimulated with products and services derived from satellite and airborne data available today.

“Large-scale mapping projects like Cartosur II, in which we recently mapped an area of 262.000 km² in Venezuela using airborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology, have demonstrated the great advantages of radar technology particularly in usually clouded regions,” states Joerg Herrmann, Infoterra GmbH´s CEO, reflecting the impact the satellite´s new-quality data will have, “with TerraSAR-X data available, we will be able to enhance this type of service with regular updates.”

In addition to the substantial preparation of its own TerraSAR-X services, Infoterra has begun the marketing of licenses. The company offers Direct Access Services, which provide image data
- either for individual use or for regional sales - directly to station operators around the globe. Now, users and regional distributors have the opportunity to ensure their data access in advance.

While the scientific use of TerraSAR-X data will be coordinated by the German Aerospace Center DLR, Infoterra GmbH will be the exclusive commercial provider of this data. Infoterra invites leading SAR experts to join a worldwide cooperation network and participate in the TerraSAR-X innovation step.

Surrounding the Earth on a polar orbit at an altitude of 514 kilometers, TerraSAR-X will be collecting new-quality X-band radar data of the entire planet. The satellite will operate independent of weather conditions, cloud coverage, and illumination and will be capable of delivering data at a resolution of up to 1 meter. TerraSAR-X, which is due to be launched during the second quarter of 2006, is currently being developed by EADS Astrium, while the DLR prepares the ground segment.

EADS Astrium is Europe’s leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment. In addition, the relevance of services based on Earth observation data is increasing constantly. Within EADS Astrium, this is covered by the European Infoterra Group. EADS Astrium, wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defense space systems. In 2003 EADS SPACE had a turnover of € 2.4 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of € 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 100,000.

Friedrichshafen, May 10th, 2004/04017

Your point of contact:
Mareike Döpke
Infoterra GmbH
Tel.: 07545-8-3924
Fax: 07545-8-1337
mailto: mareike.doepke@infoterra-global.com

Mathias Pikelj
EADS Astrium GmbH
Tel.: 07545-8-9123
Fax: 07545-8-5589
mailto: presse-de@astrium.eads.net